Vehicle coupler for connecting two or more convertible rail-highway vehicles end-to-end

Abstract

A coupling system for connecting convertible rail-highway vehicles which are adapted to operate on highways as conventional semi-trailers as well as on railway tracks in an articulated rail mode. The coupling system enables automatic coupling of vehicles when a vehicle is backed into a stationary vehicle and the transmission of large forces due to compression and tension in long trains while permitting the requisite movements of relative roll, pitch and yaw at a point between end faces of the coupled vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a train of articulated convertible rail-highway vehicles each of which is equipped with control line terminal connectors, movably mounted highway wheels at a rearward end, and a movable support at the forward end, the improvement comprising a coupling assembly for joining the vehicles together and simultaneously automatically connecting the control line terminal connectors including: a rear, female coupler mounted to the rearward end of said vehicles;   a rear, control line terminal connector mounted to the rearward end of said vehicles;   a front, male coupler mounted to the forward end of said vehicles and including means for permitting relative roll, pitch and yaw between adjacent vehicles at a point spaced longitudinally from said female coupler when said vehicles are coupled together;   a front, control line terminal connector mounted to the forward end of said vehicles;   means for locking said male coupler within said female coupler in tight fitting relation when said male coupler is inserted into said female coupler; and   said female coupler and said male coupler each including said rear and front control line terminal connectors, respectively, disposed such that when said female coupler and said male coupler engage and lock, said rear and front control line terminal connectors engage so as to enable communication between.   
     
     
       2. A coupling assembly as in claim 1, wherein said means for locking comprises a latch means mounted to said vehicles so as to be urged into an interior space defined by said female coupler and a first aperture defined in a forward end of said male coupler which receives said latch means when said male coupler is fully inserted within said female coupler. 
     
     
       3. A coupling assembly as in claim 2, wherein said forward end of said male coupler includes at least one tapered face to facilitate insertion of said male coupler into said female coupler. 
     
     
       4. A coupling assembly as in claim 2, wherein said latch means includes an inclined rearward face so that when said male coupler is inserted into said female coupler, said male coupler engages said inclined face and depresses said latch means thereby enabling full insertion of said male coupler into said female coupler. 
     
     
       5. A coupling assembly as in claim 2, wherein said male coupler is mounted to the forward end of aid vehicles by means of an attachment structure mounted to the forward end of said vehicles and including a pin received within a second aperture defined in a rearward end of said male coupler, and an elastomer shock bushing means disposed about said pin within said second aperture for absorbing shocks imposed on said male coupler during coupling operations. 
     
     
       6. A coupling assembly as in claim 2, wherein said male coupler is mounted to the forward end of said vehicles by means of an attachment structure mounted to a forward end of said vehicles and including a pin received within a monoball element pivotally rotatably disposed in a second aperture defined in a rearward end of said male coupler; said monoball element providing said means for permitting relative roll, pitch and yaw. 
     
     
       7. A coupling assembly as in claim 6, further comprising spring means for centering said male coupler relative to said attachment structure. 
     
     
       8. A coupling assembly as in claim 2, wherein said control line terminal connectors comprises at least one projecting pin element mounted to a first plate member provided on and extending laterally from said male coupler and at least one counterbore defined in a second plate member mounted adjacent to a rearward opening of said female coupler, each said pin element engaging a respective counterbore when said couplers engage and lock. 
     
     
       9. A coupling assembly as in claim 1, wherein said male coupler is mounted to the forward end of said vehicles by means of an attachment structure mounted to the forward end of said vehicles and including a pin received within a second aperture defined in a rearward end of said male coupler; and an elastomer shock bushing means disposed about said pin within said second aperture for absorbing shocks imposed on said male coupler during coupling operations.   
     
     
       10. A coupling assembly as in claim 1, wherein said male coupler is mounted to the forward end of said vehicles by means of an attachment structure mounted to a forward end of said vehicles and including a pin received within a monoball element pivotally rotatably disposed in a second aperture defined in a rearward end of said male coupler; said monoball element providing said means for permitting relative roll, pitch and yaw. 
     
     
       11. A coupling assembly as in claim 7, further comprising spring means for centering said male coupler relative to said attachment structure. 
     
     
       12. A coupling assembly as in claim 1, wherein said control line terminal connectors include at least one projecting pin element mounted to a first plate member provided on and extending laterally from said male coupler and at least one tapered counterbore defined in a second plate member mounted adjacent to a rearward opening of said female coupler, each said pin element engaging a respective counterbore when said couplers engage and lock. 
     
     
       13. A coupling assembly as in claim 1, wherein said means for permitting relative roll, pitch and yaw include means for carrying the load of the front end of the vehicles. 
     
     
       14. A coupling assembly comprising: a male coupler;   a female coupler; one of said couplers adapted to be mounted on a rearward end of a leading vehicle, the other of said couplers being mounted on the forward end of an adjacent trailing vehicle;   means for automatically locking said male coupler within said female coupler when said male coupler is inserted into said female coupler;   sale male coupler including an attachment structure adapted for mounting said male coupler to one end of a vehicle and including an attachment pin received within an aperture in the rear end of said male coupler for connecting said male coupler and attachment structure;   an elastomeric bushing means disposed about said pin for permitting relative roll, pitch and yaw between vehicles and absorbing longitudinal compressive forces imposed thereon during coupling operations;   a bore in said elastomeric bushing means disposed between said attachment pin and said male coupler which contains a shock pad for assisting in the absorbing of said compression coupling forces; and   a shock pad surrounding said attachment pin and between said male coupler and said attachment structure for absorbing some of the shocks and carrying a vehicle load.   
     
     
       15. A coupling assembly as in claim 14, wherein said female coupler and said male coupler each include control line terminal connector means such than when said female coupler and said male coupler engage and lock, the respective control line terminal connector means engage so as to enable communication therebetween. 
     
     
       16. A coupling assembly as in claim 14, wherein said means for automatically locking comprises a latch means operatively coupled to said female coupler so as to be urged into an interior space defined by said female coupler and a first aperture defined in a forward end of said male coupler which receives said latch means when said male coupler is fully inserted within said female coupler. 
     
     
       17. A coupling assembly as in claim 16, wherein said forward end of said male coupler includes at least one tapered face to facilitate insertion of said male coupler into said female coupler. 
     
     
       18. A coupling assembly as in claim 16, wherein said latch means includes an inclined rearward face so that when said male coupler is inserted into said female coupler, said male coupler engages said inclined face and depresses said latch means thereby enabling full insertion of said male coupler into said female coupler. 
     
     
       19. A coupling assembly as in claim 16, further comprising means for centering said male coupler relative to said attachment structure.